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Watch your step: Facts about snakes in the Upstate

A guide to copperheads in the South

Copperhead snakes are prolific in the Upstate of South Carolina.

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SPECIES FOUND HERE

South Carolina is home to 38 species of snake, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Six are venomous and three of them are found in the Upstate - the copperhead, shown here, the pigmy rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake.

BY THE NUMBERS

Between 7,000 and 8,000 Americans are bitten by venomous snakes every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About five of them die.

HABITAT

Copperheads, which only need an acre or two of habitat, according to DNR, are found just about everywhere - under bushes, in woodlands and gardens, and in suburban settings as well.

BITE COUNTS HERE

Copperheads inflict the most bites in the Upstate by far, said Dr. Ryan Hoffman, medical director of emergency services at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System. They've seen two snake bites this year. Greenville Memorial has treated 17 people.

SYMPTOMS

Copperhead venom destroys red blood cells and tissue, so doctors look for bleeding problems and bruising that may spread and swell when deciding what to do, said Dr. Hoffman.

HOW BITES ARE TREATED

Treatment depends on the level of envenomation. When antivenom is needed, the initial treatment is four vials. Each vial costs about $1,600.

WHERE THEY'RE FOUND

Snakes are found in woodlands, but can also be seen around wood and mulch piles, fallen logs and other natural ground cover. Avoid areas such as high grasses and use care when climbing over rocks where snakes may hide.

IN AN EMERGENCY

Stay calm. It can slow the spread of venom.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Don't apply a tourniquet, slash the wound with a knife, suck out venom, apply ice or immerse the wound in water, drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages.

South Carolina is home to 38 species of snake, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Six are venomous and three of them are found in the Upstate — the copperhead, the pigmy rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake.

Copperheads, which only need an acre or two of habitat, according to DNR, are found just about everywhere — under bushes, in woodlands and gardens, and in suburban settings as well.

And they inflict the most bites in the Upstate by far, said Dr. Ryan Hoffman, medical director of emergency services at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System who is also a snake enthusiast.

"They're in heavily populated parts of Greenville," he said. "I lived off Augusta Road and we had them there. And at Parkins Mill, I found one next to my neighbor's driveway."

"Everybody I've talked to said they've seen a lot of snakes this year," said Catron. "I do a lot of walking ... and I've never seen a snake."

There are no hard data on snake populations, said Kyle Barrett, an assistant professor of wetland ecology at Clemson University. But recent research shows a decline in kingsnakes, possibly because of habitat destruction, which may have led to an increase in copperheads since kingsnakes prey on other species of snakes, including venomous ones, he said.

Hoffman said St. Francis has seen about two snake bites this year, which is fairly typical.

Greenville Memorial has treated 17 people with snake bites so far this year, six of whom had to be admitted, said Dr. Angel Rochester, an emergency room physician. And that's about in line with what they saw last year, when they treated 17, she said.

Greer Memorial has had four cases so far this year, the same as last year, while Hillcrest had three this year, up from two last year, and North Greenville has had three so far this year, compared to two last year.

A routine walk

The evening Catron was bitten, she and her husband were walking Amber along the driveway of their home near Furman as they routinely do. The bite happened quickly.

After grasping what had happened, she said, they realized the liquid on her foot was venom that somehow didn't make it into her body.

"The middle toe on my right foot was punctured. And it felt wet. So I thought it was bleeding," she said. "But it was clear. I guess the other fang did not get in. It either went in the sandal or I'm not sure what happened."

Bryan Catron tried to locate the serpent, she said. But by then it was too dark.

"We never saw it, but we think it was a small snake," she said. "We think a big one we would have noticed. And our golden retriever didn't notice anything at all."

Once at the ER, Catron began to feel sick. Nausea was creeping up on her, and her foot had swelled to at least twice the normal size. She couldn't walk. And the pain kept getting worse.

Doctors at Memorial monitored the swelling, which eventually reached past her knee, and the bruising, which had crept up to her thigh.

Snakes don't bite unless they feel threatened, Barrett said. And almost all bites occur when people are trying to pick up a snake or are stepping too close to one.

Most people are bitten on the hand or foot, Hoffman said, often doing something that disturbs the snake, which then tries to protect itself.

"One poor lady thought it (a copperhead) was a piece of rope and bent down to pick it up and was bitten," he said. "They are very well disguised and can be easy to miss."

Bleeding and swelling

Copperhead venom destroys red blood cells and tissue, so doctors look for bleeding problems and bruising that may spread and swell when deciding what to do, Hoffman said.

Treatment depends on the level of envenomation, he said. In one of four patients, it's a dry bite with no venom, and other times envenomation is mild, so no antivenom is used, he said.

When antivenin is needed, the initial treatment is four vials, he said. It's only used when necessary because it costs about $1,600 a vial, he said.

"Antivenom is safe and works very well," he said. "But it's very expensive."

Catron said her leg continued to swell for a time even after she got the antivenin. But about a week after the bite, she was feeling much better. She was able to walk and was hoping to get clearance from her doctor to return to work.

"The toe is still a little gross. The puncture is still not healed," she said. "But in the hospital, they said I should be fine."

Snakes are found in woodlands, but can also be seen around wood and mulch piles, fallen logs and other natural ground cover, according to the CDC.

To avoid being bitten, Barrett advises steering clear of areas where you can't see what's on the ground, such as high grasses, watching where you put your feet, using caution when climbing over rocks where snakes can be hiding, and leaving snakes alone if you see them.

Catron, the mother of three grown sons, says she'll continue to take walks, but will wear different shoes.

"From now on," she said, "I won't go out at night in sandals."

IN AN EMERGENCY

What to do in the event of a venomous snake bite:

• Stay calm. It can slow the spread of venom.

• Try to remember the color and shape of the snake, or get a photo of the snake with a phone, which can help in treatment.

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

• Dial 911 or EMS.

• Apply first aid if you cannot get the person to the hospital right away by having the victim's bite below the level of the heart and covering the wound with a clean, dry dressing.

• Don't apply a tourniquet, slash the wound with a knife, suck out venom, apply ice or immerse the wound in water, drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages.